勇気 Ｃｏｕｒａｇｅ

      I have been reading articles on police officers and firefighters who lost there lives during the tsunami while guiding others to safety.  Just as at the Trade Center in 9-11, these men/women stayed at their posts to save others knowing that their own chances of survival was diminished. I am overwhelmed at their courage. What supports that courage? How does one continue to stay at his post knowing that the tsunami is right behind his back? What stops the desire to run in the face of imminent danger? How will I react in the same situation? Do I have the courage to stay? I recall how frightening it was when the earthquake hit Tokyo. I will admit that the first thing that entered my mind was "Oh ****! Hope that Ferris wheel doesn't fall on me!" I literally could not move due to the shaking. Such helpless feeling. (**#)

       津波の際に殉職した警察官や消防士の記事を読んだ。彼らは人たちを安全な場所に誘導して殉職した。９．１１のトレードセンター同様に彼らは持ち場を離れ無かった。自分達が助かる率が減るの承知に。自分はその勇気に圧勝された。何がその勇気を支えたのだろうか？直ぐ後ろに津波が押し寄せてくるの知りながらどうやってその場から逃げなかったのか？逃げる気持ちをい何が押さえのか？自分は同じように反応するだろうか？居残る勇気はあるだろうか？東京での地震は恐ろしかった。一番最初に脳をよぎったのが「げー。あの観覧車が落ちてこないといいが」だった。揺れで動けなかった。なんとも頼りない気分だった。

     Recovery operations have only begun make some progress. It will probably take years to establish a "normal" life in the devastated areas. I have some former LE counterparts that have the undesirable task of identifying the deceased, an endless task....Anyone who has had to deal with the deceased in non-normal circumstances can understand the horrifying nature of the job. Courage is needed to be able to go out day after day and do such a job. I have been told the officers that are sent to do the job are rotated back after a week or so and receive psychological care to lessen the trauma.  I am sure it is the same with the SDF soldiers and US Forces soldiers that are assisting in the devastated areas.

　被災地の回復作業は始まったばかり、普通に戻るには何年も掛かるだろう。法律施行機関のい知人達らは遺体の確認作業のため派遣されている、とても悲惨な任務である。誰でも遺体、まして普通の死に方をしてない、を扱った経験があるのなら分かると思う。痛烈に悲惨である。毎日その任務に出るには勇気が必要である。聞いた話では一週間位のロテーシオンで戻って精神的な治療を受けるらしい、トラウマを少なくする為。被災地に派遣されている自衛隊、在日米兵も同じだと思う

      I can only hope that when the time arises that I have in me the same courage.

　　必要な時に同じような勇気は自分にある事を願う。

OSU!